COM student helps with COVID-19 patient’s successful recovery at New Hampshire hospital
It can be difficult finding signs of light during the coronavirus pandemic. But Lisa O’Kane (D.O., ’20), experienced what she called a “magical moment” during the final days of her clinical rotation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, New Hampshire.
That moment came when O’Kane, along with hospital staff members, wheeled Robert White of Moultonborough out of the hospital to find a gathering of his family members waving sings and cheering.
“He was the first patient with COVID-19 that we admitted and the first to be discharged,” O’Kane explained. “I felt really connected to him. Typical patients have family members there and they have people to talk to. But with the COVID situation, no visitors are allowed. So, patients really depend on you for all of their interaction.”
White tested positive for the virus after coming down with flu-like symptoms.
“We were really worried about him. He was very, very sick,” O’Kane stated.
A tube had to be placed into White’s airway so that he could be placed on a ventilator.
“I was able to hold his hand while all this was going down and talk to him before he was intubated,” O’Kane said.
Soon, doctors saw signs of improvement.
“He turned a corner and then just kept on getting better and better,” O’Kane commented.
O’Kane had secured iPads for the ICU. When White was feeling better, she was able to connect him with his wife through Facetime.
“He just lit up hearing her voice,” O’Kane said. “It was just such an amazing moment to see.”
After a few weeks of hospitalization, White was well enough to go home. As O’Kane and hospital staff members led him out the hospital door, they were greeted by White’s family.
“I didn't expect anything, but his entire family was there holding signs for us and for him,” O’Kane exclaimed. “His wife was there and came and hugged him and everybody was crying. It was just one of those magical moments.”
O’Kane has wrapped up her clinical rotations and is planning to head to New Jersey for a general surgery residency this summer. Her career in the health care field is just beginning, but she already has had an experience that she won’t soon forget.
